*

My mother raised three boys.

Who she taught to put down the toilet seat.

This seat refused my help.

Descending on its own time.

In 21 seconds.

*

The toilet is in a hotel in Iowa City, Iowa — home to the University of Iowa and its 31,000 students.

Rebecca and I joined another couple to tour the Stanley Museum of Art.

And view this Jackson Pollock painting.

You can see a documentary on Pollack’s Mural here.

The University of Iowa is home to America’s first MFA program, the prestigious Writer’s Workshop, and Caitlin Clark, last year’s collegiate basketball National Player of the Year.

Pollack’s Mural resides comfortably in southeast Iowa because nonconformity is everywhere.

Infecting even the desk clerk who took this photo.

So, I wasn’t surprised I encountered a mutinous loo.

*

Later that night, I decided to get into the spirit.

I splattered Pollock-like toothpaste onto the brush and raised my right hand in victory for a Clark-like hand gesture.

With my left hand, I reset the toilet seat.

And brushed my teeth for 21 seconds.

Also, something my mother taught me.

I then sat down.

To write this story.